Osteospermum plant named &#39;SUNOST1704&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘SUNOST1704’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth rate; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘SUNOST1704’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compactand uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractiveray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofOsteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1302’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.26,428. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by theInventor on a single flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1302’ within a populationof plants of ‘SUNOST1302’ in a controlled greenhouse environment inOdense, Denmark in May, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since October,2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SUNOST1704’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SUNOST1704’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and        mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching growth habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘SUNOST1302’, primarily in ray floret color as plantsof ‘SUNOST1302’ have purple and red purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1202’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of‘SUNOST1704’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more outwardly spreading        than and not upright as plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.    -   2. The lower surface of the ray florets of plants of the new        Osteospermum are darker red in color than the lower surface of        the ray florets of plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Osteospermum have larger        discs than inflorescences of plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1704’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘SUNOST1704’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1704’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Osteospermum    ecklonis ‘SUNOST1302’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,428.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            whitish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright to            outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on moderately            strong peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate            growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 14            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 17.3            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 28.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit            with about four primary branches developing per plant,            primary branches each with about seven secondary branches;            pinching enhances branching potential. Length: About 7.4 cm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 5.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Primary branches, about            20° to 60° from vertical; secondary branches about 40° from            primary branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145B to 145C.            Color, fully developed: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.            Length: About 7.4 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Shape: Runcinate.            Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Long attenuate. Margin:            Shallow to medium and divergent lobes. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Rough, moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Rough, moderately            pubescent; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 144C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and            axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on            moderately strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing            acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly            upright.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 80            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously from autumn into the            winter; plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks            after pinching.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new            Osteospermum last about ten days on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Texture and luster:            Immature ray florets, smooth and glabrous; involucral            bracts, moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Immature ray            florets, close to 153D and 154A; involucral bracts, close to            138A and 138B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.4 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Diameter: About 3 mm. Height: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Broadly rhomboidal. Color: Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 24 ray florets arranged in about two whorls. Length:            About 2.7 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Obovate; moderately            carinate. Apex: Shallowly praemorse. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Slightly upright; slightly to            moderately reflexed. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; moderately            glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 59C;            towards the apex, close to 31A to 31B. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 59C; towards the apex, close to 22B and            31B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53A and between            53A and 53B; towards the base, close to 59A and 59B;            venation, similar to lamina color; with development color            becoming closer to slightly darker than 53A with stripes,            close to 187A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 46A,            183A and 185A; venation, similar to lamina color; with            development color becoming closer to slightly darker than            53A with stripes, close to 187A.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 80 disc florets spirally arranged in about five whorls            at the center of the receptacle. Length: About 8 mm.            Diameter, apex: About 4 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm.            Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed. Texture and            luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to            184C. Mid-section: Close to N148C to N148D. Base: Close to            156D. Color, mature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close            to 185C. Mid-section: Close to 186D. Base: Close to 185C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 20 phyllaries arranged in about two whorls. Length:            About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 138B; towards the            apex, close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.2 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 6.9 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect, terminal            peduncle: Mostly upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 35°            from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:            About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155B; distally,            tinged with close to 185C and 185D. Anther shape: Narrowly            oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to            darker than 200A. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.            Pollen color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter:            About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to            between 200A and 203A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style            color: Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to 157C to 157D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    high temperatures about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 9 to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named‘SUNOST1704’ as illustrated and described.